Restorative justice has become an increasingly important element in reform and change to criminal justice systems throughout the western world, and there are many reasons for satisfaction with the progress that has been made - from the point of view of victims, offenders, the level and incidence of re-offending, and in terms of public opinion. At the same time there has been cause for concern, not least to do with the confusion on aims that has accompanied the rapid spread of restorative justice practices, an overestimate of its possibilities, a blurring of concepts and a lack of attention to...

Restorative justice has become an increasingly important element in reform and change to criminal justice systems throughout the western world, and there are many reasons for satisfaction with the progress that has been made - from the point of view of victims, offenders, the level and incidence of re-offending, and in terms of public opinion. At the same time there has been cause for concern, not least to do with the confusion on aims that has accompanied the rapid spread of restorative justice practices, an overestimate of its possibilities, a blurring of concepts and a lack of attention to...

Restorative justice has developed from a barely known term to a central role in debates on the future of criminal justice. As it has moved into the mainstream so new tensions and issues have emerged as it has become increasingly integrated into normal practice, and become part of broader legal and judicial systems -both in common law countries and those with centralized legal systems. The purpose of this book is to explore this developing relationship between the concepts and practice of restorative justice on the one hand, and the law and legal systems on the other. Amongst the questions it...